Sir, President Robinson (and her advisers) would do well to remember that in her role as the elected representative of the Irish nation, her personal opinions or feelings are of no consequence in matters of protocol. An article in The Irish Times (March 15th) referred to her visit to Pope John Paul II. It also advised the reader that the President had been made aware of the code of dress expected on such a visit.
However, apparently it is not customary for our President to, swear a veil, which presumably means that she doesn't wear a mantilla. Nor, I am quite sure, is, it customary for the majority of women (Princess Diana, for one) who have an audience with the Pope to wear mantillas.
Nevertheless, they adhere to Vatican protocol out of common courtesy and dress in the appropriate manner. As the audience with John Paul II was in her capacity as the President of Ireland, and therefore representing the Irish people, I was deeply offended by her seeming indifference to etiquette on such a significant occasion. - Yours, etc.,
Landscape Park,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.